The purpose of this study was to investigate he physical work capacity (PWC) of elderly people, and to know relaxation allowance by measuring the maximum oxygen uptake $(VO_2 max)$ of elderly people. Also, we could compare the maximum oxygen uptake $(VO_2 max)$ of Korean and foreign elderly people. In America, NIOSH presented the lifting handling task guideline using biomechanical, physiological and psychophysical bases. Among them, psychophysical base used the maximum oxygen uptake of American. So, we assessed if NIOSH guideline can be applied to Korean, especially, elderly people.
Six males and six females took part in this test. Average age is 55.8 years (±1.95) for male, 53.5 years (±3.15) for female. Treadmill and bicycle ergometer were used in this study. We measured Heart Rate (HR), Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE), oxygen uptake $(VO_2 max)$. Then we used submaximal exercise testing method which estimated maximum oxygen uptake from heart rate and oxygen uptake.
On treadmill test, volunteers walked at 2mile/h for 2minutes, and ran 4mile/h for each 1 minute at 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7% gradients without rest between each step. On bicycle ergometer test, speed was 50 rpm, and workload was 50W, 100W, 150W for 4 minutes, respectively. After test, subjects performed cool-down for 60 seconds.
Maximum oxygen uptake $(VO_2 max)$ for male was 30.85 ml/kg/min (±6.1) from treadmill test, 27.02 ml/kg/min (±5.1) from bicycle ergometer test, and for female was 25.45 ml/kg/min (±4.7), 21.88 ml/kg/min (±4.73), respectively. Through this result, we could obtain relaxation allowance suited for metabolic work.
